It turns out that neither political party has cornered the market on condescension.

The big divide in America isn’t between red states and blue states. It’s between snooty elites in both parties and the everyday people whom they claim to respect but secretly despise.

Given how liberal Democrats treat minorities who stray off the ranch and dare to make their own decisions about what to believe or whom to support, I learned long ago that the left isn’t happy unless it is lording over the rest of us. Not only do liberals need to keep telling themselves that they’re smarter and more compassionate than everyone else, but they also need to convince us that they’re much better people.

But now thanks to the discourteous and childish manner in which Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell has been treated by parts of the Republican establishment — i.e., former White House adviser Karl Rove, Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn, a gaggle of right-wing radio talk show hosts — we have learned that GOP conservatives can look down their collective noses with the best of them.

Of course, it’s not just Republicans who are taking unfair shots at O’Donnell. She has also been greeted by derision and ridicule from the liberal media, but this is to be expected. Given her conservative views on both economic and social issues, O’Donnell is never going to be accepted by those on the left. With liberals, their main problem with O’Donnell is her appeal. The fact that she excites voters — particularly young women — scares the daylights out of them.

It’s about politics. And, if possible, driving a wedge between the candidate and her supporters on the religious right. In a youthful indiscretion, O’Donnell said — during an appearance more than 10 years ago on Bill Maher’s ABC show, “Politically Incorrect” — that she “dabbled into witchcraft.” Maher released that video and has threatened to release more of the same if O’Donnell doesn’t agree to go on his current television show.

So, for liberals, black magic is out of bounds. But blackmail is perfectly acceptable.

When it comes to conservatives who make up the Republican establishment, their criticism of O’Donnell is less political and more personal. They didn’t anoint her and so they don’t respect her. They overwhelmingly preferred O’Donnell’s primary opponent, Rep. Mike Castle. A former Delaware state representative, state senator, lieutenant governor and governor, Castle has been in Congress since 1993. But he’s been in politics since 1966, or three years before O’Donnell was born.

Longevity can often be an advantage. But this year, with voters hungry for new faces and fresh blood, it was a liability.

It was an impressive victory for the tea-party-backed candidate. Yet the members of the Republican establishment still weren’t impressed. Instead of doing the classy thing and admitting they were wrong, they’re doubling down on their skepticism. Many of the same people who assured us that O’Donnell would never win the primary are now guaranteeing us she’ll never win the general election against Democrat Chris Coons, who seems a lackluster alternative to the O’Donnell Express.

One exception is Cornyn, who has now offered O’Donnell his endorsement — along with a $42,000 check for her campaign from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

O’Donnell is refreshing and optimistic, and she shrugs off her critics with a smile. She obviously touches a nerve with voters. The fact that the elites in her own party don’t see or respect this tells us just how out of touch they are with the people whose interests they claim to champion. No wonder these Republicans are fighting O’Donnell so hard and so relentlessly. Their own relevance hangs in the balance.

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